Is New Orleans ready to have tourists?

[jacq63]

Originally Posted by MissCookieMoses

I know what you mean. I, personally, appreciate the tourism, but I don't like the way we market ourselves as a city, and I do get sick of the tourists. (Ever found someone having sex in your courtyard? Or, ever woken up with human blood all over the door? What about vomit on your porch?) Then again, the conventions make a huge difference, but they always come into the Quarter, which many fail to see is still a neighborhood first and foremost.

Bloody tourists!
I promise I tried to appreciate the French Quarter for the historical wonderland that it is, and will endevour to see a lot more of dear ol' NOLA when I return...in February..Carnival time. Yes, I know, tourists will be swarming everywhere, but on behalf of the idiots, I apologize in advance for inexcusable behavior they may comit. I'll do my best to hammer some sense into them - hopefully before they get 'hammered' in the other sense!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by adysmom

Has the tourism gone down hill sense the world has found out what New Orleans is all about? At one time we wanted to go on vacation to New Orleans but not now.

I've been to NO about 5 times since Katrina. The French Quarter had decent crowds on a Saturday afternoon - this was not the case a couple of years ago. As to "what New Orleans is all about" - well, it's always had the richest and poorest living side by side. And the part of town tourists visit was the least harmed by Katrina.

I'd recommend visiting. Just be careful where you go - If you're a tourist, I'd stay in the French Quarter and St Charles. And do NOT venture beyond the Quarter at night. There are some pretty seedy areas practically at the doorstep of the Quarter.

[Len-NJ]

Sorry BRMan - I have to disagree about not leaving the French Quarter area at night, while in NO since Katrina, my BF and I have spent a great deal of time uptown near the Maple Leaf and on Frenchman st at night and have not had any problems. One can easily be taken advantage of within the quarter day or night depending what street you're on and if the area has few people around just like in the areas I mentioned - you're not 'safe' if you stay inside the FQ and you're not necessarily in trouble if you leave it. Also – NO is not only about the FQ and the FQ is not the only place that needs the tourists $$$.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Len-NJ

Sorry BRMan - I have to disagree about not leaving the French Quarter area at night, while in NO since Katrina, my BF and I have spent a great deal of time uptown near the Maple Leaf and on Frenchman st at night and have not had any problems. One can easily be taken advantage of within the quarter day or night depending what street you're on and if the area has few people around just like in the areas I mentioned - you're not 'safe' if you stay inside the FQ and you're not necessarily in trouble if you leave it. Also – NO is not only about the FQ and the FQ is not the only place that needs the tourists $$$.

The area I'm thinking about specifically is around Louis Armstrong Park - the Treme projects are right there, and there are people lounging around even in the middle of day. Plus, you have some questionable neighborhoods once you leave the Quarter going up Elysian Fields.

Anyway, the point is, I wouldn't go wondering around NO.